I have been through so many trainers and even behaviorists, all costing me a fortune, but really not helping me very much...here are my 2-1/2 year old Eskie's problems:

1. Destructive: Humps pillows, laundry bags and tears them up
2. Eats His Own Poo: I know this is common, but it's still disgusting
3. Bites Me ALOT...mainly when I put on his leash...my hands are covered in bites...
4. Guards territory: whether it's a bed, sofa, even the room he is in...snarls and bares his teeth at me!
5. Pees (on occasion) in house

These are just a few things...I love him dearly, but my patience is wearing thin fast. I have to confess to yelling at him, and tonight he peed I think from being upset at me yelling! Needless to say feeling guilty about THAT!

SOMEONE...PLEASE...give me some good advice...I CANNOT shell out more money for behaviorist...

Welcome to the site! I have to ask you is youor dog neutered? Is he home all day alone? how much excercise does he get? is he socialise with other dogs? What did trainers previously say? are there other dogs in the home? Maybe you could give us a bit more detail and someone should be able to offer some advise for you?

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown

Keep a leash on in the house at all times, tie it to your waist when you're home, solves biting when putting leash on and possessing items, getting things he shouldn't. Get a kennel for when you are not home. Provide more exercise, not yard time or something, like heavy walking , running or even biking if hes not getting tired out. provide toys and games to make him think he sounds bored and full of energy.

I will reply more later - I have to go and pick up my AMERICAN ESKIMO! - from his weekly socialization, where I might point out he is a totally different dog - adjusts to the environment and is Mr. Congeniality! How long have you had your Eskie; are his bites "real" or in fact are they as a result of the Eskie' jaws and teeth (and claws) of death touching your skin because he can't help it. My guy weighs 22 lb.s - turned 5 yesterday - but his teeth - especially the canines are huge and when he passes out, they hang out. Due to shape of face, Eskies don't really have lips and I always tell people when offering him a cookie to bend down so that he doesn't have to jump. Do you give your dog "real" or "smoked" bones - my guy turned into Cujo when I did this - but as soon as I managed to get said bone away from him - took 3 attempts -throwing myself on the floor to do so - it was over and he was sitting there wondering what was up. When I gave him the bone I could see a change in his eyes - and he isn't the only Eskie - I lurk on the Eskie specific board (www.eskie.net) might not hurt to do a little search there because I can tell you all Eskies share many of the same attributes - to varying degrees. Eating own poop - YEP! Destroying anything with stuffing - yep (like to chew leashes too - not to forget anything like tissue, toilet paper - oh, heck -the world in general). Eskies do not generally mature until about age 3 - I am still sort of waiting for it to happen. I would not yell at an Eskie - they have a built-in sense of what they feel is appropriate - and a stern voice is better. Eskies are very smart and very hard to train and they are also very good with their hand-like paws. We had a few classes with a behaviourist - he was super student with her - not nearly as good with me - then there is my husband - useless, because he won't follow the same rules as me. My guy has a small bladder - and Eskies are prone to stones so you need to watch out for that. They also do well on a fish based diet - my guy eats Fromm's Salmon a la Veg - and gets bottled water - no yellow in his eyes after I started that. They are very protective of what is theirs and will warn you off usually with a low growl if they don't want to be disturbed - better a low growl then a bite. Definitely dog should be neutered - my very hot looking boy toy was done at 7 months - he has a very sexy tail and is being taken advantage of as I type by a multidude of big dogs at socialization. He only humps on Thursdays - I wonder why! But many, many of the Eskies hump and have their own humping pillows. My guy is terrified of crates thanks to BYB - so he doesn't go in one. They are very sensitive to their own needs - "Ouch" doesn't work as you probably know. They are also afraid of what will happen to them if something happens to you. Before this guy I had Alpha Mini Dachshunds - difference with them was that they would alert and protect me - my Eskie will alert me to protect him. On walks he is a barking fool - most are. I guess I have typed more than I planned but then I type 120 wpm so it wasn't hard. I hope you continue to post because my Eskie and I seem pretty much alone on pets.ca - but I strongly urge you to have a look at the Eskie site - you can search all you want without signing up - this is how I found his food, and that the bottled water would help with his eyes (had yellowing for one week only at 7 months) plus was able to see the traits common to the Eskie. The Keeshond, also a Spitz is more mild-mannered - and has very pretty colouring - in short - not a white dog who loves the mud. His assistant groomer has an 11 month old Pap - my Eskie is his mentor. I love it! Basically they love their own people, and a few select others. They do not do well in a kennel type of environment - we found a young lady who home boards him when we go away - we didn't go away together for 30 years with our Dachshunds, but this works out great and he sleeps in her bed - and is having a thing with her Husky. Just a matter of finding the right people. As soon as he goes behind the gate at socialization he accepts his fate with the big dogs - but he will tell them to buzz off when on other side of gate when I pick him up. Actually he humped the main humper who was shocked. Believe me, I know how frustrating an Eskie can be - and I will never have 2 of them. Some people do but I wouldn't.